Houston summer is hot, but there are still some dedicated fitness buffs who won't let the heat get to them. You can keep up too with these fitness tips to get you outside and working hard in no time.

Photo: Jay Hare, Associated Press

Tips for exercising in the Houston heat

Houston summer is hot, but...

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Sun protection: When skin is exposed to the sun, boost your sunscreen by wearing workout clothes that have sunscreen built into the fabric. And don’t forget to wear a hat or visor.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Sun protection: When skin is exposed to the sun, boost your...

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Time of day: Early morning and evening workouts are recommended to avoid the height of the heat and sun. Working out first thing in the morning gets your workout done for the day; working out at night boosts your metabolism before you go to bed.

Photo: Marianna Massey, Getty Images

Time of day: Early morning and evening workouts are recommended to...

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Hydrate: You need more water to combat increased temperatures. Not sure how much you need? Remember this easy hint: drink enough water to make your urine clear.

Photo: Jason Fochtman, Associated Press

Hydrate: You need more water to combat increased temperatures. Not...

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Hit the sand: Running, walking, even yoga on the beach is more challenging because of the unevenness of the surface. A beach workout engages more muscle groups.

Photo: Marco Luzzani, Getty Images

Hit the sand: Running, walking, even yoga on the beach is more...

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Enjoy the outdoors: Outdoor activities don’t have to be just running and biking. Gardening, swimming, jumping rope or running through the sprinkler with your kids are all great ways to burn calories.

Photo: ROBYN BECK, AFP/Getty Images

Enjoy the outdoors: Outdoor activities don’t have to be just...

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Know when to head indoors: There are days when the heat index is too high to safely exercise outside. Try a new class at the gym or yoga studio for a cool indoor workout. You could also do a workout DVD in the comfort of your home.

Photo: The Washington Post, The Washington Post/Getty Images

Know when to head indoors: There are days when the heat index is...

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Take a walk: Summer is the perfect time for a long walk with family, friends, neighbors and Fido after dinner. It stays light long into the evening, when the temperatures cool off.

Photo: EMMANUEL DUNAND, AFP/Getty Images

Take a walk: Summer is the perfect time for a long walk with...

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Join an exercise group: Every form of exercise has a group attached to it. Running or hiking groups or a group Pilates mat class. If the group dynamic is what will encourage your workouts, do your research and sign up.

Photo: Astrid Stawiarz

Join an exercise group: Every form of exercise has a group attached...

"Living in Texas as I do, the results really resonated for me," Paul von Hippel, an assistant professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, said in a press release. Hippel wrote the study with doctoral student Rebecca Benson.

"Around June or July here, it starts getting hard to think about going outside for a jog — or even a brisk walk — after work, which is close to the hottest part of the day," Hippel said.

"You have to come up with a strategy for staying active in the summer. Are you going to get out in the early morning, which is the coolest part of the day? Are you going to swim? Or are you going to do something indoors, like basketball or ice skating or just walking on a treadmill?"

After controlling for factors such as demographics, urban sprawl, and city parks, the study still found that heat, summer rain and humidity have a big impact on physical fitness.

The study also found that bad weather also impacts people who live in places that are especially cold and dark in the winter, such as the Midwest.

The least obese counties were found in the mountainous West, where summers are usually cool and dry.

Check out the UT maps showing areas of obesity, physical activity, summer temperatures and precipitation in the slideshow above. Then, keep clicking for some useful tips for working out in the Houston heat.